The Top 20 Best Comedians’ Impressions Of Famous Musicians

There’s a saying that all comedians want to be rock stars and all rock stars want to be comedians. Sometimes that dream gets to come true. The 20 comedians on our list transformed themselves so seamlessly into the personas of famous rock stars, pop stars, rappers and crooners that we can’t separate the musician from their famous impersonator anymore.

20) Maya Rudolph as Whitney Houston on Saturday Night Live

Maya Rudolph always brought a musical flair to her performances, but no where was her musicality and penchant for physical comedy more appreciated than in her bonkers impression of the late, great Whitney Houston.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2bCc0EGP6U19) Zach Galifianakis as “Kanye West” in “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”

The hilarious Zach Galifianakis would normally rank higher for starring in a Kanye West video, but it’s not a straight up impression. He’s just taking on the voice of West for comedic effect, and yes, it’s hilarious.

Kristen Wiig’s comedy could sometimes polarize her audiences. People either loved or hated her over-the-top character creations. However, her penchant for the weird served her well with her Bjork impression.

Jimmy Fallon might be the best musical impressionist in the game. This whole list could be entirely composed of Fallon impressions. His impression of Justin Bieber is a mix of joy and satire. It pokes fun at the young star, but still is bursting with exuberant fandom.

Mumford & Sons didn’t appear in their recent music video for “Hopeless Wanderer.” Instead, comedy stars Jason Bateman, Will Forte, Ed Helm and Jason Sudeikis lampooned the band and the cliches of nu folk in this silly music video.

Cult hit Flight of the Conchords might be one of the best musical comedy series of the past decade. Stars Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie usually took center stage with their own songs, but in the episode “Bowie,” Clement delivers more than one absurdly hilarious take on the rock legend.

11) Vanessa Bayer as Miley Cyrus on Saturday Night Live (and the VMAs!)

Vanessa Bayer’s big debut on Saturday Night Live was playing a then still just precocious Miley Cyrus in the recurring sketch, “The Miley Cyrus Show.” As time bore on and as Miley grew up, Bayer adapted the impression to reflect the changes in Cyrus’s image, but she’s still managed to make it feel like it’s the same girl…just now she like to twerk. It’s pretty cool.

Eddie Murphy was the unquestioned star of Saturday Night Live in the early ’80s. Not only was he quite simply the funniest guy in the room, but he also had a wicked ear for impressions like this one of Stevie Wonder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHKUcXNq_xk8) Andy Kaufman as Elvis Presley on The Andy Kaufman Special

Andy Kaufman is regarded as one of the pioneers of alternative comedy. He didn’t just impersonate people or play characters; he melted into other people. His Elvis Presley impression may be one of his most mainstream acts, but it’s no else revolutionary.

7) Phil Hartman as Frank Sinatra on Saturday Night Live

Some might prefer Joe Piscopo’s take on Frank Sinatra, but we’re die hard Phil Hartman fans. I mean, how can you compete with a joke about nailing 1950s screen goddesses?

Remember how I said that while Fred Armisen was genius, someone did Prince a tiny bit better? Dave Chappelle’s take on Prince isn’t just hilarious because it’s spot-on, but it’s got the added bonus of being narrated by Charlie Murphy.

While at Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon got to impersonate one of his rock heroes, Mick Jagger, in front of Jagger’s face…in the mirror. The full clip isn’t online anymore, but we can still enjoy the two Jaggers pointing their fingers at each other.

4) Jimmy Fallon as Barry Gibb on Saturday Night Live and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Justin Timberlake’s first hosting debut on Saturday Night Live also marked the debut of Jimmy Fallon’s “The Barry Gibb Talk Show” sketch. The sketch became so popular that the duo not only brought their BeeGees impression back to Saturday Night Live, but it’s also been performed on Fallon’s late night show.

It’s one of the most famous and quotable sketches in Saturday Night Live history. Christopher Walken shines as the crazy producer who wants “more cowbell” and Will Ferrell is an insane delight as the Blue Öyster Cult member who gives it to him.